Cannabis News Roundup: Week 2025-15: America’s Cannabis Future: Justice Reforms, Market Investigations, and Hemp Uncertainty

Week of 12 Apr, 2025

• Maryland advances major cannabis expungement reforms after mass pardons.

• New York investigates major brands for illegally moving cannabis into the legal market.

• Minnesota reinstates its social equity licensing lottery and finalizes key cannabis regulations.

• Connecticut debates shortening ownership rules for social equity businesses and establishes a new cannabis oversight division.

• North Dakota rejects decriminalization of low-level cannabis possession.

• Montana reallocates marijuana tax funds toward conservation, law enforcement, and public health.

• Nationally, former DEA officials warn Trump administration may delay marijuana rescheduling.

• National hemp news spotlights a regulatory crisis, blaming the FDA’s inaction for a market collapse.

• Texas, Alabama, Indiana, and Missouri all see legislative battles around regulating or restricting hemp-derived THC products like delta-8.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

#BreakingNews #CannabisNews, #CannabisIndustry, #MarijuanaNews, #NewsUpdate, #CannabisRegulation, #CannabisBusiness, #CannabisLaws, #Legalization, #CannabisCompliance, #ConsumerSafety, #CannabisReform

MARYLAND

 

Maryland is taking major steps to expand cannabis justice. Lawmakers passed a bill that will automatically hide pardoned marijuana convictions from public view and make it easier for people to expunge cannabis-related records. This follows Governor Wes Moore’s mass pardon of over 175,000 such convictions last year. The bill also removes some restrictions on expungement eligibility, such as the need to complete probation first. Governor Moore is expected to sign the bill into law soon.

#MarylandCannabis #CannabisJustice #MarijuanaExpungement #WesMoore #CannabisLaws #MarijuanaPolicy #SocialJustice #LegalWeedMD

NEW YORK

New York’s cannabis market is under fresh scrutiny.

State regulators have launched an investigation into California-based cannabis giant Stiiizy and several other brands. They’re accused of illegally bringing marijuana grown outside New York into the state’s legal supply chain — a practice called "inversion" that's banned under state and federal law.

Investigators conducted surprise audits at Omnium Canna, a licensed processor on Long Island, suspected of acting as a middleman. Brands reportedly involved, including Grön, M Fused, and To the Moon, have denied any wrongdoing. Stizy says inspections found no violations.

If proven, these allegations could hit local growers, hurt consumer safety, and further destabilize New York’s already fragile legal cannabis industry.

#NewYorkNews #NYCannabis #NYLegalWeed #NYMarijuana #NYState #Stiiizy #NewYorkCannabis #THCLaws #CannabisRegulation #CannabisIndustry #InversionInvestigation #OmniumCanna #LegalWeed #CannabisCompliance #CannabisAudits #OCM #MarijuanaNews #CannabisProbe

 

MINNESOTA

On April 4, a state judge ordered the Office of Cannabis Management to reinstate a canceled lottery for social equity cannabis licenses. That lottery, meant to give early business opportunities to communities harmed by past marijuana laws, had been delayed for months over legal challenges.

Just days later, Minnesota's proposed cannabis regulations were approved without changes — a critical step toward launching retail sales.

Together, these rulings mean Minnesota can soon start issuing licenses and opening legal cannabis businesses. More than 1,700 social equity applicants now have a renewed shot at joining the industry.

While Minnesota’s rollout has been slower than other states, officials say the focus remains on fairness, public safety, and building an inclusive market.

 

#MinnesotaCannabis #SocialEquity #CannabisLicensing #RecreationalMarijuana #MinnesotaWeed #CannabisJustice #CannabisMarketLaunch #MNPolitics #OCMUpdates

 

CONNECTICUT

Connecticut’s cannabis market is evolving — with entrepreneurs and regulators both pushing for major changes as the industry grows.

Social equity cannabis entrepreneurs are urging lawmakers to amend a 2021 rule that requires them to maintain majority ownership of their businesses for seven years. Many argue that the restriction, intended to protect community-based ownership, now limits their ability to adapt, raise capital, or exit struggling ventures in an increasingly competitive market.

A newly proposed House Bill proposes shortening the ownership requirement to three years. Supporters say the change is critical for small business survival, while opponents warn it could lead to corporate buyouts and weaken the state's social equity goals. 

At the same time, Connecticut has created a new cannabis-focused division within the Department of Consumer Protection (DCP), separating oversight of cannabis from pharmaceutical regulation. The move was accelerated after controversy over an unannounced inspection raised concerns about regulatory fairness.

With cannabis sales now topping tens of millions monthly, the state says dedicated oversight will help manage the growing complexity of the industry. Officials aim for more responsive and specialized governance as dispensaries, cultivators, and consumers expand across Connecticut.

#ConnecticutCannabis #SocialEquity #CannabisEntrepreneurs #HB7178 #CTCannabis #EquityInCannabis #CannabisLaw #SmallBusinessCT

NORTH DAKOTA

North Dakota’s Senate has voted down a bill that was going to make low-level marijuana possession a noncriminal offense.

The proposal, which passed the House earlier this year, would have treated possession of less than half an ounce like a traffic ticket — a $150 fine without court appearances. Supporters argued it would ease pressure on the state’s courts, where thousands of minor cannabis cases have piled up in recent years.

Opponents warned it could lead to broader legalization, which North Dakota voters have rejected in past ballot measures. Critics of the defeat note that voters have never decided specifically on decriminalization alone.

For now, small cannabis possession remains a criminal infraction in North Dakota, carrying fines up to $1,000 and required court hearings.

#NorthDakotaCannabis #HB1596 #MarijuanaDecriminalization #NDPolitics #CannabisLaw #DrugPolicy #CriminalJusticeReform #NDLegislation

 

MONTANA

Montana lawmakers have found a compromise on how to spend the state’s marijuana tax revenue. Two new bipartisan bills keep conservation funding intact while expanding support for law enforcement and addiction treatment programs. The legislation reallocates $33 million in cannabis tax funds across wildlife, police grants, and public health, and both measures now head to the opposite chambers for further debate.

#MontanaCannabis #SB537 #HB932 #CannabisTax #WildlifeFunding #MarijuanaRevenue #HEARTFund #MontanaLawmakers #THCTaxPolicy #MTLegislature #MontanaOutdoors #DrugPolicyReform

 

NATIONAL

While at the Ohio State University policy forum, former officials from the DEA and HHS cautioned that the Trump administration might indefinitely delay marijuana rescheduling unless President Trump directly champions the effort. Despite prior momentum from the Biden era, rescheduling proceedings have paused, partly due to administrative disputes within DEA hearings. Without explicit support from the Oval Office, experts predict the DEA might choose inaction as the easiest course. Trump's current drug policy priorities notably omit cannabis reform, and his appointed DEA leadership has historically opposed marijuana use, deepening concerns. For the cannabis industry and medical patients, a delay could mean continued barriers to tax deductions and research progress, reinforcing a critical need for high-level political advocacy.

#MarijuanaRescheduling #TrumpAdministration #CannabisIndustry #DEA #MedicalCannabis #HempNews #CBDUpdates #CannabisBusiness

 

HEMP-RELATED NEWS

 

NATIONAL

Lawmakers and hemp industry leaders gathered on Capitol Hill this week, warning that America’s hemp marketplace is veering toward a full-blown crisis — and they say the FDA is partly to blame.

At a House Oversight and Government Reform Committee hearing titled "Restoring Trust in the FDA: Rooting Out Illicit Products," the spotlight was on the booming — and largely unregulated — market for hemp-derived intoxicants like delta-8 THC.

Since hemp was federally legalized in 2018, a wave of products that mimic the effects of marijuana have flooded the market, sold everywhere from gas stations to online stores — often without age checks or clear labeling. Industry leaders, like Jonathan Miller from the U.S. Hemp Roundtable, testified that the lack of FDA action has created public health risks, economic devastation for farmers, and confusion among consumers.

In his testimony, Miller said the industry is "begging" for federal rules. Without them, hemp prices have collapsed by over 90 percent, hurting thousands of U.S. farmers who once saw hemp as a new cash crop.

Frustration is bipartisan. Lawmakers from both parties criticized the FDA for ignoring Congress’s directive to regulate hemp under existing food and supplement laws. States have stepped in with their own patchwork of bans and restrictions, but without national standards, the market remains a Wild West.

A legislative fix is now on the table. Senator Ron Wyden has introduced a bipartisan proposal that would authorize the FDA to regulate hemp cannabinoids while giving states the flexibility to set their own rules.

Meanwhile, with new FDA leadership in place, stakeholders are watching closely for signs of change — and for an overdue effort to bring order, safety, and economic stability back to the hemp marketplace.

#CBDPolicy #CongressionalHearing #FDAOversight #FarmBill2024 #CannabinoidSafety #RegulateHemp

TEXAS

 

At this time in Texas this week, the Texas House State Affairs Committee heard emotional testimony against two bills, Senate Bill 3 and House Bill 28, which aim to severely limit or outright ban the sale of THC-infused hemp products. Industry leaders, healthcare providers, veterans, and patients warned lawmakers that the legislation could devastate the $8 billion hemp industry, eliminate thousands of jobs, and block access to natural therapies for chronic conditions. The bills remain pending as public opposition continues to surge.

 

#TexasHemp #THCBan #TexasLegislation #MedicalCannabis #VeteransForCannabis #SB3 #HB28

ALABAMA

Alabama's House Health Committee has advanced HB 445, a bill proposing strict regulation of hemp-derived THC consumables such as edibles and drinks. The bill would place these products under the Alabama Alcoholic Beverage Control Board, limiting sales to adults 21 and older and requiring licenses, lab testing, and tax compliance. 

 

INDIANA

Indiana is one step closer to regulating delta-8 THC products, a marijuana-like compound currently sold widely across the state. Senate Bill 478 passed its third House committee this week and now heads to the full House for a vote. The bill would cap the number of retailers, restrict who can sell, and give oversight to the Alcohol and Tobacco Commission. Lawmakers say it’s time to bring order to a fast-growing and largely unregulated market.

 

#IndianaCannabis #SB478 #INLegislation #THCLaws #Delta8Indiana #CraftHemp #INHouseBill #THCRegulation

MISSOURI

 

Missouri’s plan to regulate hemp-derived THC products like delta-8 has hit a wall. After a seven-hour bipartisan filibuster, lawmakers paused Senate Bill 54, which would restrict edibles and vapes to marijuana dispensaries but allow low-dose beverages outside of them. Supporters say the bill protects public health; critics call it unfair to small hemp businesses. The debate continues.

 

#MissouriCannabis #SB54 #MissouriSenate #CannabisDebate #THCBeverages #THCLegislation